May. 6, 2014 - 03:48PM
|

Related Links

Some captains and majors facing a reduction-in-force board this October will be able to apply for Temporary Early Retirement Authority or voluntary separation pay beginning May 22.

According to a May 2 memo updating rules governing the RIF board, which was obtained by Air Force Times, the VSP and TERA window will close June 30.

At least 1,174 officers in the Line of the Air Force and LAF-Judge Advocate categories are overmanned and could be cut by the RIF board, according to a matrix dated May 2. The previous matrix, which was dated Jan. 23, identified 3,187 LAF and LAF-J officers who were overmanned. The Air Force has been reducing its original overmanning estimates in many force management programs, largely because thousands of airmen have already been approved for early retirement and voluntary separation.

The latest matrix does not include stats on officers in the Medical Service Corps, Dental Corps and Medical Corps, who are also in danger of being RIFed.

Certain LAF captains in year groups 2006 through 2008 and LAF majors in year groups 2001 through 2003 will face the RIF board. Since January, the Air Force has dropped LAF captains in the 2005 year group from RIF consideration.

The year groups of LAF-J majors facing a RIF have also changed. The January chart said LAF-J majors in year groups 2000 through 2002 were at risk of being RIFed, but the new documents show some LAF-J majors who were promoted to captain in 2004, 2005 or 2006 will face the board. LAF-J captains are not at risk of a RIF, according to the new chart.

The RIF board was originally scheduled to convene June 16, but in February, the Air Force pushed it back to Oct. 1 because there were legal limitations on the number of officers and the total officers within a grade that may be recommended for separation by a RIF board within a fiscal year. The Air Force said the delay would prevent airmen from having to meet multiple boards in a short time span. The Air Force said the delay would mean some officers who were initially eligible for the June board would no longer be eligible, and other officers would newly become eligible.

Officers who are not retained by the RIF board must separate no later than April 30.